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Palin Baby Shocker: Does It Matter?

3 years ago

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Mark Impomeni and Denise Willliams

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By Mark Impomeni
(St. Paul) - The Republican National Convention was rocked today by the revelation that Vice-Presidential nominee Governor Sarah Palin's eldest daughter, 17 year-old Bristol, is pregnant. The Palin family put out a statement saying that they are proud of their daughter and asking the media to respect her privacy.

"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.

Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."

Palin's nomination has brought a renewed energy to McCain supporters, especially among the religious and Evangelicals, important parts of the Republican base. Thus far, initial reports are that the story will not hurt the McCain campaign politically among this all-important group. Reached at the convention site, Erick Erickson, Editor of the influential RedState.com, said that the story may actually help McCain with the religious right. And Steve Dillard, a member of the National Catholic Steering Committee for the McCain campaign said that families of faith would embrace the Palins over the way they have handled the matter. "I think the daughter made the right choice and it shows that Gov. Palin has raised her daughter to respect the sanctity of life. Character is shown with how you act under difficult circumstances."

One GOP strategist agreed. "Palin is inoculated with religious voters. In the meantime this is something that makes her easier to relate to. She is not perfect. Her family isn't perfect. But they are loving. And they get through it together."

The Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Administration, Annette Kreitzer, said she hoped that the news would help other young girls know that it is OK to talk to their parents when they are in this difficult situation.

"I don't know the family well enough to comment beyond what Governor Palin has told Alaskans and Americans. What I'm pleased about is that Bristol was not afraid to talk with her parents about the pregnancy and I hope that other young women facing a similar situation would take courage in Bristol's decision to tell her parents. I've known a few young women who have faced this situation and I know it was difficult for them to discuss with their parents, but ultimately they and their parents were stronger for it."

Voters want to be able to identify with political candidates, and this story gives the Palin family something in common with thousands of American families. While no political campaign wants to lose control of its message, and there are indications that this story came out earlier than the McCain campaign might have liked, ultimately it does not appear to be one that the campaign should fear.

By Denise Williams

The news today that vice presidential hopeful Sara Palin's teen-aged daughter is pregnant without the benefit of marriage was released to quell rumors that Governor Palin was actually the grandmother of infant Trig.

The fact that Palin was still picked as McCain's running mate and that the campaign was fully aware of this situation when it made the offer to the Alaska Governor, in itself is quite interesting. The Palin family, full-throated Evangelicals, are experiencing what thousand of other families go through each year - the unexpected out-of-wedlock pregnancy.

The family's decision is a private and personal matter - as much as it can be. Despite the rumors and innuendo and the need to release this information for that reason, how long does anyone think it could have been hidden from the public? It was bound to come out sooner or later and better sooner lest the public continue to think there was very little vetting process with this candidate.

Palin's daughter will keep the baby and marry the father - the family-friendly answer to this vexing issue. Will this development make any difference at all to the Evangelical community? It's hard to see that it would with marriage as the expected outcome. Despite religious convictions of any kind - kids have sex and kids get pregnant.

I see that this might actually be a good place to open up dialogue about teen pregnancy, abstinence and birth control. If an Obama candidacy can make us more open about race and Clinton's run focus the dialogue on sexism and glass ceilings, perhaps the Palin family experience help us reflect on the fact that the US has the highest incidence of unplanned teen pregnancy in the developed world.

Mark Impomeni, a Republican, and Denise Williams, a Democrat, are on the ground in St, Paul to bring you their dueling political perspectives throughout the Republican National Convention. Check back to follow their feature, "Floor Fight."

Filed Under: Featured Stories, 2008 President, Scandal, Republican Convention, Floor Fight, Sarah Palin

Tagged: 2008 presidential, 2008Presidential, elections 2008, Elections2008, John McCain, JohnMccain, Republican convention, RepublicanConvention, Republicans, RNC, Sarah Palin, SarahPalin, scandal

More articles from Mark Impomeni and Denise Willliams »

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